COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Police say they want to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash that led to the death of a student yesterday.



Officers from Coventry Police’s collision unit launched the appeal after the University of Warwick student was struck by a small lorry in Lynchgate Road, Cannon Park, at 12.45pm.

She suffered serious head injuries in the crash and died a few hours later in hospital.

Sgt Neil Higgins said: “The collision happened during the university’s lunch hour and close to a local shopping centre and we are sure that there are people who may have witnessed the collision.

“We believe that the woman is a foreign student and we are working alongside the university and the Chinese Embassy to locate and inform her family.”

The student’s details will not be released until her family has been informed.

A spokesman for the University of Warwick said: “It’s terribly sad to lose somebody from the University of Warwick family.

“Obviously our thoughts are with the student’s family and friends at this time.

“We have organised special counselling sessions for anybody affected by what has happened.”

Witnesses or anyone with information is urged to call police on 101.

Call for Cannon Park road safety improvements after student's death


Police hand out road safety information leaflets to students, near Cannon Park shops

Road safety improvements could be made in Cannon Park after a student was killed in a collision with a lorry last week.

Pedestrian Maggie Cheung, aged 23, suffered a serious head injury in the crash in Lynchgate Road, close to Tesco, last Tuesday.

The University of Warwick student, who was originally from Hong Kong, was reading a masters degree in economics.

The death has led to concerns being raised about road safety in the area.

Coun Rachel Lancaster, cabinet member for public services which includes highways, said the council would look into the collision.

She didn’t rule out improvements being made to the road such as introducing pedestrian crossings or a 20mph speed limit – but said any decision would be made after a thorough investigation.

Coun Lancaster was with police who were holding a road safety action day in the area yesterday.

She said: “One of the things we are looking at is a 20mph speed limit across different areas of Coventry. There may be other measures we can look at such as road markings too.”

An inquest into Miss Cheung’s death was opened yesterday in Coventry.

Coroner Sean McGovern said her cause of death has provisionally been recorded as a head injury.

He added that the inquest would resume “as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the report from West Midlands Police”.

Cannon Park resident Eleanor Sandy has launched a petition calling for a pedestrian crossing to be installed in Lynchgate Road and for the speed limit to be reduced.

“Every day I see a near miss,” the 22-year-old Coventry University student, who lives in Gibbett Hill Road, said.

“I’m not just doing it for pedestrians, it’s for drivers too because so many people just walk out in front of cars.”

To sign the petition go to Varsity in Gibbett Hill Road.

Police were in the area yesterday as part of a day of action.

Sgt Paul Mercer and colleagues spoke to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

He said: “It’s about raising awareness about some very simple road safety measures.

“Things like looking both ways to cross the road, wearing a hi-vis jacket if you’re cycling, that sort of thing.

“It’s part of an ongoing road safety campaign across the city which will be continuing in this area and others.”